Memory Decline Starts Earlier Than You Might Think
Middle-age memory slips are a bit strange
New Test for Broken-Heart Syndrome Offers Insights into the Mysterious Disease
It could prevent unnecessary invasive procedures
The Return of a Discredited Pseudoscience
Eugenics is rearing its ugly head again in today’s crucible of politics and culture
The Extinct Tasmanian Tiger’s Bite Was Unlike Any Other Predatory Mammal’s
Which makes its extinction even more tragic
An Astrobiologist’s Guide to the Best Sci-Fi Reads
Cosmic lesbian necromancers, cyberpunk Canterbury Tales, and so much more
Latest Stories
This Viking Dress Survived for 1,300 Years, Protected by Its Metal Ornaments
Such delicate textiles typically decompose within a few years
How a “Psychic” Horse Named Clever Hans Changed the Way We Do Science
His tutor Wilhelm von Osten was convinced that animals possessed an intelligence equal to humans
An Expert Pieced Together This Roman Document Like a Jigsaw Puzzle. You’ll Never Guess What It’s About
Classics researchers think it was part of a reference booklet traveling officials carried with them
Read Stories from Our Newest Print Issue: The Stupid Issue
See moreThe Resistance Is Here
They didn’t plan to be activists. But scientists have united to overturn Trump’s drastic cuts to science.
The Trouble with Cancer Screening
Tests for cancer often lead to more confusion than clarity. Here’s how to understand them.
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Cutting-edge science, unraveled by the brightest living thinkers.
Astronomy
See more AstronomyThe First Moon Spaceport Is Coming. But First We’ll Need Moon Traffic Control
If we don’t manage air traffic well, we risk spacecraft being sent way off course—without the rocket fuel necessary to get back
NASA Has Begun the Countdown to the Launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
The new space telescope will help astronomers unravel the mysteries of the universe
Five Images, Six Decades: Capturing the Iconic “Earthrise” Photo
The first was taken August 23, 1966
History
See more HistoryArchaeologists Just Found a Fascinating Ancient Statue—Used as a Paving Stone in a Roman Road
The statue dates back 2,500 years, and offers researchers clues about the culture of the period
The Kitchen of the Realm: Even the Commoners Ate Well in Ancient Osaka
But their dental hygiene may leave something to be desired
Psychology
See more PsychologyI’m Part of the Team Writing the Next Bible of Psychiatry—For the First Time, the DSM Will Use Biology to Understand Mental Disorders
Part of the challenge of finding a biomarker for mental illness is the environment’s significant influence
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Environment
See more EnvironmentThis Is What Happens When 1,000 People Bury Their Underwear for Science
Talk about getting to the bottom of things
How Much of a Problem is AI’s Water Use?
It depends. Though water consumption by data centers pales in comparison to that of some other industries, it’s a problem in water-stressed regions. Water-saving cooling technologies could help
How the Heat is Messing with Your Sleep
Restless nights may be the new normal as the globe cooks
Zoology
See more Zoology
In Photos: The Sea Creatures Lurking Off the Shores of Nantucket
An aerial survey captures images of marine megafauna aplenty in the Atlantic Ocean near the coast of Massachusetts
Philosophy
See more PhilosophyWhat a Picture of a Dog Has to Do with Reason and Logic
People who can’t see images in their minds challenge an old philosophical standby
What Makes Humans Stupid
It takes intelligence to get things spectacularly wrong. An essay on our undoing.
The Inventor of the Thinking Machine Didn’t Worry. Neither Should You
In this age of AI anxiety, listen to your heart
COVID Brain Fog May Not Be Irreversible
At least for one variant
Read more
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How to Think About Thinking
A conversation with neuroscientist Adrian Owen about the importance of executive function
Cyborg Roaches Could Be the Future of Triage Medicine
The augmented insects could deliver life-saving care to disaster victims
Fact-Checking the Biohackers Who Claim Metformin is an Anti-Aging Wonder Drug
What the science says about their DIY one-person clinical trials
Meet the Vegan Draculas of Australia
New research seeks to confirm the identity of tropical lampreys that don’t have the taste for blood
Dolly Parton: Science Icon
The singer/songwriter leaves a scientific legacy more should aspire to
What’s the Secret to Bats’ Super Longevity?
Multiples of immune proteins give them an edge in fixing cell damage
Volcanoes That Made History
Long after the lava stopped flowing, enormous eruptions altered Earth’s climate and societies all over the globe
This Hidden Glacier Has Enough Water to Fill 600 Olympic Swimming Pools
And there are more than 50,000 others like it worldwide
